Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut stated in London that his initiative regarding the liberalisation of Serbia's visa regime with the United Kingdom was met with understanding by British officials.
Following the reception hosted by King Charles III of the United Kingdom on the occasion of the Berlin Process, he stated that he had asked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to consider the possibility of liberalising the visa regime, at least for certain categories of Serbian citizens, namely those who wish to pursue education or academic advancement in the United Kingdom.
"This initiative was met with understanding, and we also discussed that this issue would be part of a broader package within our approach toward the European Union," Macut said.
According to him, they also discussed the new electronic visa application system that was recently introduced.
"Although the process of obtaining UK visas has never been simple, there is a noticeable understanding of our needs and a readiness to ease the procedures," Macut stated.
Macut also said that Serbia would present a message at the Western Balkans Summit within the Berlin Process that "the political conditionalities imposed by Pristina are unacceptable."
"Serbia will present practical messages at the Summit. We believe that it is necessary to exit the vicious circle of political conditionalities that are unacceptable to us, as we are constantly conditioned by the actions of the provisional authorities in Pristina," Macut told journalists in London, after the reception hosted by King Charles III on the occasion of the Western Balkans Summit within the Berlin Process.
As he emphasised, these issues should not be a stumbling block for Serbia.
"The British side has understood this," Macut noted.
Western Balkan Leaders in London
Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, following his meeting with King Charles III, said that it was "sincere and substantive, and that they discussed the friendship between their countries, stability, development, and the protection of nature, areas to which the King has been committed for years."
Mickoski added that the meeting represented recognition and respect, but also an incentive to continue along the path of shared values, trust, and partnership.
He also noted that within the Berlin Process, organised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, there are several meetings focused on economic and infrastructural strategic cooperation with the United Kingdom.
The reception was also attended by Borjana Kristo, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who described the gathering of Western Balkan leaders as "an evening to remember," filled with substantive and important discussions.
Among the guests were also the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the country’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Dame Karen Pierce.
In her speech, Cooper said that the event was "a sign of how highly the United Kingdom values its relations with the Western Balkans and the partners who are present here today."
She emphasised the joint effort to overcome the legacy of past conflicts and to look toward a shared, more optimistic future.
"Our shared experience of coming together after histories of conflict and the ability to look toward a joint future, with optimism for the future. We are not only dealing with issues of security and reconciliation, but also economic growth, opportunities for the future, culture, industry, and the ways in which we can work together on issues from migration to the economy and trade. So, with all these topics and a multitude of issues for discussion, but also so many things we can simply enjoy together as part of the Berlin Process," Cooper said.
Berlin Process: A Decade of European Perspective
The Berlin Process was launched in 2014 in Berlin with the aim of connecting the countries of the Western Balkans and bringing them closer to the European Union. The initiative brings together six countries of the region and provides a stable platform for political dialogue, regional cooperation, and the exchange of experiences. Experts emphasise that the process is a key framework for the pro-European development of the Western Balkans, as it enables political visibility of the region, encourages infrastructural and social projects, and strengthens the European perspective of countries aspiring to EU membership.
Although the Berlin Process is not a formal EU accession instrument, its strength lies in connecting leaders, defining common priorities, and ensuring continuity of regional cooperation.
Every year, the summit is held in a different European city, and the host country assumes leadership and issues a final declaration with a list of key projects. The focus of the process includes infrastructure, economy, rule of law, security, mobility, environmental protection, and youth programmes.
(EUpravo zato)
